Gresford News May 2020

resford News G

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May 2020

News of the communities of the Paterson and Allyn River Valleys

Nina Maroulis (left) and Josh Evans (above) keeping the Billy Cart spirit alive.

2020 Billy Cart Derby ...in isolation The 2020 Gresford Billycart Derby was officially cancelled due to the pandemic lockdown but there was no stopping the pebble spitting diehard fans who took to the tracks on their own places on Easter Saturday to keep the tradition rolling. Some were documented, many not. Check out the Gresford Billy Cart Derby Facebook page to see some of the videos.

The Gresford News is a Gresford District Community Group project. Circulation 800 – Donations appreciated and most welcome. Thank you!

Dungog

Gresford Transport ABN - 76872263533

Livestock, Hay and General Transport

Gresford, Dungog Maitland, Singleton 12 ton capacity fully insured

Stephen Hill for friendly and personal service

st as ill t no rad rm in al g

Home - 02 49 389 349 Mobile - 0429389349

KELZ carpet cleaning Domestic and Commercial carpets, lounges and rugs Friendly Service Call: Kelly Richardson Mobile 0437 395 585

Chiropractic Clinic I treat most musculoskeletal complaints including back and neck pain, sciatica, headaches, migraines and limb pain and pins and needles.

HiCaps and eftpos facility is available so patients can claim direct from their healthfund and just pay the gap.

Located at Dungog Community Hospital on Hospital Road in Dungog phone no: 4992 3766

Shane Moss B.Sc. M.Chiro.

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Gresford News Notices Gresford Rural Fire Brigade is still operating 24/7!

Given the current COVID - 19 protocols people need to be aware that the Gresford Rural Fire Brigade is still operating 24/7!

The brigade has ceased training and all other non-emergency roles. We are limiting crews to 4 persons per truck.

All crew members must sanitize hands before responding. A crew leader will assess the situation before other crew members leave the truck. Crews will wear gloves and P2 mask when necessary.

All high risk members or members showing any symptoms are not to attend the station for callouts.

to notify your intentions to burn 24 hours prior to lighting your fire.

Rick Cannon Gresford Brigade Captain.

volunteer or obtain information about the services Neighbourcare provides please contact us on 4992 3348.

Gresford Rural Fire Brigade AGM

Gresford News CLASSIFIEDS

The Gresford Rural Fire Brigade, will be holding its Annual General meeting on Wednesday 03 June 2020.

Advertise in the GRESFORD NEWS CLASSIFIEDS

Given the protocols as regards the COVID Classified Ad Rates are: Standard line - 19 Pandemic, the meeting will be held listing $2.75 a line or $11 for 5 lines by audio conference and Brigade Members will not be attending the Station.

Do you have hidden treasures you might like to sell, or perhaps buy! I wouldn’t The Annual General Meeting audio mind betting with a fossick around an conference will commence at 7.30pm.

If anyone needs any further information old shed or cupboard there is something that may be useful to someone else… please contact the Brigade Secretary; maybe an old gate, some unused fence Glenn Wall on 0428 389 462.

We ask that members of the public please posts, machinery untouched for a few notify the brigade on arrival, if there is years, a car, sewing machine, even a any forced self-isolation, or suspected computer stuck in the corner that you COVID-19 conditions on scene. no longer use. You could send a for The members of the staff and board of sale ad in to the news with a price on Simply put; We haven’t stopped; we won’t Dungog and District Neighbourcare stop; but we have adapted to the would like to express our appreciation to your item and an email address or phone number. Maybe this page could become changing environment. all our volunteers for continuing to the monthly Gresford Clearing Sale!!. A provide safe and quality care to our I would also advise that Fire Permits are valued clients during this extraordinarily great avenue to use if you are hunting no longer required BUT notifications to for a bicycle, walking machine, garden difficult time. If any community burn are still required. Advise your members require services, would like to hose, ceramic garden pots, trailer etc! neighbours and please Call 1800 890 533 Send ads to gresfordnews@iinet.net.au.

Thank You

DSCC survey The Dungog Shire Community Centre is asking you to share, anonymously, how you and your family are coping through the COVID19 impacts.

Having an awareness of how our community is feeling, what is working for people to help them get through and where the gaps are in the help, support and information that people need to not only cope but to support their family and feel confident and engaged during this tme.

Please fill in the short survey – https:// impactcovid19.secure.force.com/ survey/r/DungogShireCommunityCentreBeneficiaries. It will help us help you and your community. Here at the Community Centre we want to know how we as a community are going during this time of social distancing and COVID19 impacts.

We want to know who the Community Centre can better support and deliver assistance and services to help you and your community.

We are inviting you to participate in a Survey, to provide us with valuable insights on your evolving needs and

required to read the registration perceptions about COVID-19 as the pandemic continues to unfold. The types information and give your consent to of questions in the survey relate to: participate prior to commencing.

• Challenges you are facing as a result of social isolation; • Perceived concerns around catching the virus; • How you are currently accessing information; • What is providing relief for you during this time; • Your perceived sense of community safety; and • Your perceived impact of the economic implications of COVID-19.

If you are feeling depressed or lonely please reach out call: • Call the Dungog Shire Community Centre to chat about how we can help you – 4992 1133 • Lifeline. 24-hour telephone support 13 11 14 (not COVID-19 specific) https:// www.lifeline.org.au/get-help/topics/ mental-health-and-wellbeing-duringthe-coronavir us-covid-19-outbreak • Loneliness Telephone and Chat line http://www.friendline.org.au/

We will be checking in with a follow-up survey every week for the nex7t 2 months, and then monthly thereafter.

Each Survey should take no longer than 5 minutes to complete.

If you are having difficulties with costs of living please call the Community Centre on 4992 1133 so we can provide support and assistance during this time

The information you provide will help us to understand your sentiment and concerns during this critical time, enabling us to help accordingly.

Click on this link https://impactcovid19. secure.force.com/survey/r/ DungogShireCommunityCentreBeneficiaries to get started. You will be

Please share this with your networks in the Dungog Shire, because the more information we can receive the better we can support our community.

Thanks for being part of this Stay well and take care Sarah U'Brien, Manager Dungog Shire Community Centre

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Plumbing & Excavations Pty Ltd

General Plumbing & Drainage Gas Plumbing Drain Cleaning New houses, renovations & extensions

ATTENTION: FARMERS, GRAZIERS AND HOBBY FARMERS ARE YOU GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR ACREAGE?

Direct Drilling

Slashing and Mulching

Cultivating and Discing

Tabletop Truck Hire

Fertilizer Spreading

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Round Baling: Hay and Silage Small Square Bales

BRIAN & JULIE REIBEL

Mowing and Raking

PH: 02 4930 9047 FAX: 4930 9046 15 Lerra Road, WINDELLA NSW 2320

Whatever the job, get it done right and on time by your local bloke!

ACN: 109 886 419 ABN: 81 109 886 419 Lic No. 167289C

Vacy General Store will continue to be open for all.

We will be doing takeaway food, Pizza, and coffee. Australia post will be open as normal.

We will have fresh bread and milk and your essential grocery needs and fuel are all available from 7am to 7pm. We ask if you would like take away food, pizza or coffee please ring your order through and we will have it ready. Also we ask if you drop in to shop we would appreciate you keeping in mind everyone's personal space.

Thank you for your support – Jo & Ian

NEW Phone Number: 4938 8425

Your Local Rural Services Specialist. Competitive Rates!

Ring Rodney Richardson 'Penshurst' Mt Rivers Ph 02 4931 7125

Adventures at your place Local Land Services has an activity series called ‘Adventures at your place‘ to encourage kids to get outside and explore their own backyard and local bushland/ waterway. There will be a new activities regularly online. Visit www.adventuresatyourplace.com. au. They also have a gallery to upload photos of the kids' creations.

This month we feature the 'Wild Pollinators' activity. See pages 8 and 9 in this Gresford News for one family's research on butterflies.

When we think of insects and flowers, we imagine a European honey bee walking all over the flower, collecting pollen and taking it back to their hive.

This is where our honey comes from.

These honey bees are easy to see, there’s lots of them and they are easy to spot with their black and yellow bands.

Pollinators in the garden Step 1 Have a look at what wild pollinators could be living in your backyard by downloading the Pollinator Insects Guide.

Step 2 Head out into your backyard and look for any insects that are hanging around plants with flowers. Take photos of them if you can as this can help you identify them later on. *WARNING: do not touch insects only observe them as some insects have a nasty sting*

Step 3 Using the

who's in you r backyard?

Wild Pollinators

When we think of insects and flowers, we imagine a Europea walking all over the n honey bee flower, collecting pollen and taking hive. This is where it back to their our honey comes from. These honey to see, there’s lots bees are easy of them and they are easy to spot yellow bands. with their black and But what Did you know, Austral about all the rest? ia has lots of wild pollinator insects?

Many native insects contribute to pollinati are social and live on in crops and gardens in hives or nests, all around the country just like the honey big, while others . Some bees, but many live are tiny. Some have alone. Some can a nasty sting, while be many have no sting at all.

what is pollination?

Pollination occurs when pollen grains (male part) reach the stigma (female part) of the same species of plant. This is how plants reproduce.

Most flowering plants (90 percent) depend on animals for pollination.

Pollinating animals do the job for a reward – food!

RECORDING SHEET tally the number of different insects you are seeing.

If you don’t know their name, that’s okay, just try to work out which group of insects they belong to.

How many did you spot?

But what about all the rest? Did you Step 4 Create an artwork of your favourite wild pollinator that you know, Australia has lots of wild observed. This could be a painting, pollinator insects? drawing or 3D model made from Many native insects contribute to items in your backyard. pollination in crops and gardens all around the country. Some are social Send us a photo of your creation With parent/guardian permission, and live in hives or nests, just like the honey bees, but many live alone. submit a photo of your creation and it could be displayed on the Some can be big, while others are tiny. Some have a nasty sting, while website and the Hunter Local Land Services Facebook page. many have no sting at all.

Remembering Mowing the lawn On Ravenscroft Eccleston there is an old house built in 1911 where Mr and Mrs Eugene Kenny lived.

Mrs Kenny – nee Rose Sivyer. Mrs Kenny tendered a nice garden and she supplied the flowers for St Pauls Eccleston church for each service.

My sister and I walking home from Eccleston school would collect mail at Eccleston Post Office (owned by Sam Sivyer brother to Rose Kenny) to deliver to people in our path on the way home.

Mr and Mrs Kenny was our first call. When we arrived Mrs Kenny was down on hands and knees with a bucket mowing her lawn. She plucked the grass off with her hands and placed it in the bucket. I don’t remember seeing anyone else ever mowing the lawn that way. This was around the 1940s. The garden and lawn was always well kept.

Another place we delivered to was Mrs John Watts who rewarded us with a cake. We called them Johnny cakes. The cakes were very acceptable, being peckish after school and hoped for mail every day for Mrs Watts.

Delma Lawrence

Local music & art to be launched on YouTube The De Factos is a duo consisting of locals Donna Cavanough and John O’Brien. And they’re releasing their first single – Heavy Freedom – on Sunday 3 May at 5.30pm. It’s a world premiere on YouTube. The song, and the video, are inspired by the work of another couple of locals, artists Robyn and Eric Werkhoven. The song will also be available on Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play and other internet outlets.

If you want to join in on the YouTube premiere, here’s the link: https://youtu.be/eGiLBkAmTdI Or just type the de factos heavy freedom youtube into your preferred search engine.

Contribute To The Gresford News - It's your News The Gresford News is a great way to reach out to our community. Our content is created by members of the community just like you. If you have an event coming up or something interesting to say let us know. If you are part of a group organise a Publicity Officer to send in an occasional update of your activities. It can be as simple as photo and a paragraph to go with it.

To contact Gresford News: email gresfordnews@iinet.net.au • Brian Doherty 0412 372 687 • Jane Richens 0425 339 856

Postal Address: PO Box 73 East Gresford 2311. Deadline for stories & ads 20th of the month. Pictures – .jpg (not in word).

Visit

www.gresfordnsw.com.au for local information and the ‘Gresford News’ online.

resford News finances G

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Please support your local newsletter and contribute anonymously or use the slip below and place your donations in the boxes provided in Gresford.

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The Terry Cowley Bridge – retired bus driver honored

by Sarah Cooper

bus in order to drive all of the kids and so ended up driving around twenty children to three different schools over the years and crossing that bridge up to ten times a week.

Theresa Cowley was a bus driver for Gresford Primary school, Mount Rivers Primary and Lostock Primary. So to show our gratitude the bridge going over Sheep Station Creek on Paterson River Road has been named Cowley Bridge.

Now, you may still be thinking ... So? I do the same thing with my kids. What makes the difference is instead of three kids its twenty. But Mrs Terry Cowley did not just drive the bus for as long as her children were in school. No, Mrs Terry Cowley drove three generations up and down that road for 45 years, up to ten times a week. And that was just driving the bus, she still had to go shopping and do whatever else she needed too.

Over fourty years ago Mrs Terry Cowley use to drive her three children to school in the morning, in her Holden, and then drive them home in the evening. To do this she drove over the bridge at Sheep Station Creek, just about two kilometres down the road from where she lives, which meant she was crossing this bridge four times a day.

This is not out of the ordinary for a parent to do. Almost every mother or father drives their children to school.

Which means they drive over the same patch of road up to four times a day, whether it be a drive-way, a intersection or an old bend that is full of potholes that you wish the council would fix.

After a few years of doing what every other parent does Mrs Terry Cowley started to pick up some of her neighbours kids and other children down the road until her car was completely full of youngsters all going to school. A while later, once her car was full, Terry bought a

• May 2020, p 7

And so, recently, with the help of Stewart Cooper, Mrs Theresa Cowley finally got what she deserved for her great many years of hard work, the bridge going over Sheep Station Creek was proudly named Cowley Bridge, as a way of saying, Mrs Terry Cowley, thank you, thank you for your decades of service.

How does Terry feel about getting a bridge named after her? “I'm very excited” – Terry Theresa Cowley, former bus driver, at the bridge named after her.

Thanks for this story to one of our budding local writers, 13 year old Sarah Cooper.

Expressions of Interest – 2 positions Board of Dungog Advisory The Board of Dungog Advisory Pty Ltd is seeking two interested community members permanently residing in the Dungog Local Government area to be appointed as Directors of the Board for a three-year term. Note this is a Voluntary Position and retiring Board Members are Eligible to reapply.

ESSENTIAL Expressions of Interest need to: • Demonstrate permanent residency in the Dungog Local Government Area • Not a staff member of RSL Lifecare or Resident Lara Aged Care / Ironwood Village • Knowledge of and interest in Lara Aged Care and Ironwood Village and of Aged Care Needs in the Dungog LGA. DESIRABLE • Prior Board and or Committee Experience.

Role of Board Members of Dungog Advisory Pty Ltd • Carry out the responsibilities of a Director of Dungog Advisory Pty Ltd as per the company’s constitution • Actively serve as a member of Dungog & District Advisory Committee, including 1. Advocate for the rights and interests of Lara and Ironwood Village Residents 2. Monitor RSL Lifecare’s compliance with its obligations under the Transfer of ownership Deed 3. Provide advice to the Board of RSL Lifecare regarding strategic planning, guidance and support to ongoing development of aged care and community services throughout the local government area of Dungog 4. Attend Advisory Committee Meetings held at least 3 times per year at Lara Aged Care.

Expressions of Interest need to be in writing and received at Lara on or before Friday, 29th May 2020 & addressed to: The Chairperson, Dungog Advisory Pty Ltd. c/o Lara Aged Care 64 Hospital Road, Dungog N.S.W. 2420 Further information may be obtained by phoning David Stuart on 02) 49921899

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Have you seen masses of butterflies lately?

Following the prolonged drought, the recent rain has seen a frenzy of butterflies in our area. They are responding massively to the heat and humidity.

Butterflies and other insects have all emerged and are out and trying to finish off their life cycle in preparation for the next year.

During this recent time of isolation the editors of the Gresford News have been working on a family project. Father and daughter, Des and Jane Richens, have been photographing butterflies and moths and then trying to identify them and what they eat. We have been identifying a large number of species and some of them are reproduced here.

One native butterfly – the Caper White – Belenois java, has been particularly abundant. Not to be confused with the white cabbage moth with 2 black dots on each wing. They don't eat cabbages or other brassicas. Their common name 'Caper White' refers to the plant their caterpillars exclusively feed on, the caper bush – Capparis arborea – found in our area. This butterfly is known to migrate and move long distances to find food plants.

Caper white – Belenois java – male topside

Caper white – female underside darker and yellower

Caper white – female with pupae on host plant Capparis arborea. The top pupae is the Caper white.

The bottom pupae is yet to be identified.

Caper white – male underside

The Caper White butterfly is fast moving. It is mostly white but has distinctive black edging around its wings and yellow and white patches on the underside of its hind wing. Females are a bit larger than the males and have wider black borders on their wings. Caper whites provide food for many other species, including birds.

When indentifying adult butterflies and moths there is a difference between markings on the topside and underside.

Males and females have different markings as well. A useful website www. lepidoptera. butterflyhouse.com.au has sections for both butterflies and moths with photos of most stages and what they eat.

Graeme Ferguson

Registered Surveyor Consultant in surveying, planning and engineering * Portion Boundaries Remarked

* Identification Survey Reports * House Setouts

* Urban and Rural Subdivisions * Engineering Survey and Design * Topographic Surveys * Urban and Rural Road Design * Control Surveys

“Yatta” Torryburn Via Paterson 2421

Tel 4938 9448 Email yatta2@bigpond.com

Private Kill Welcome

Packed and labelled ready for the freezer and your convenience.

Aged for 7–10 days to develop the best flavour your beef has to offer.

Ph 4938 9710

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Some of the recent butterflies & moths & their native host plants

Emporer moth caterpiller and adult • Opodiphthera astrophela • Host plant – Red Ash Citrus Swallowtail • Papilio aegeus • native citrus

Common brown ringlet • Hypocysta metirius • grasses

Small-eyed Box-Owlet • Grammodes oculicola

Southern Old Lady Moth Yellow Albatross • Appias paulina • Dasypodia selenophora • wattles • Native Holly, Yellow Tulipwood

Australian Lesser Wanderer • Danaus petilia • milkweed

Joseph’s Coat Moth caterpiller and female • Agarista agricola • Slender Grape vine

Butterfly Host Plants The website below has a list of native host plants – with many found in our area. www.toowoombaplants2008. blogspot.com/2010/12/ butterfly-host-plants-fortoowoomba.html Top & underside of Yellow Admiral • Vanessa itea • nettle species

Meadow Argus • Junonia villida • Macleay’s Swallowtail • Graphium Scaevola & other flowers macleayanus • Pittosporum

Dear Valued Customers, As we all know, non essential businesses have closed for at least the next month. This includes The Hotel Beatty and Twin Rivers Cafe.

Takeaway alcohol is available but please ring through orders in advance to check that staff are in attendance. Phone 4938 9451 We are not serving food at the moment Check facebook for updates.

Thank you and stay safe everyone.

QUALITY SERVICES Driveways | Dams Arenas | House Sites Landscape Supplies D6 Dozer | Bobcat 8 & 14 Ton Excavators wisemansexcavation@gmail.com

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ANZAC Day Commemoration at Chads Creek, Halton

FOR SALE Hyundai Santa Fe Elite, White, 2013 Popular roomy and powerful with economical 2.2 litre turbo diesel engine.

Tiptronic auto, safety AWD. and seat leather in perfect condition 145.000km, full service history Priced for quick sale $19,900 Phone 0427663766 to arrange inspectioin

Social Distancing Commemoration of Anzac Day 2020 at Chads Creek was enhanced by the visit of a local Chads Creek resident, Alex Honey playing PIPERS LAMENT on his bagpipes. Alex was practicing social distancing at the family farm due to cancellation of his usual commitment with his school on Anzac Day and offered to support the driveway commemoration of a local Chads Creek resident.

Knox Grammar School in Sydney and plays the pipes in the School Band and also competes in national Bagpipe Playing Competitions.

The Gresford RSL Sub Branch has hopefully secured a future commitment from Alex to support our local Anzac Day Commemorations at Paterson and Gresford when his current commitments in Sydney are completed.

John Casey, Gresford RSL Sub Branch

N EW

O W N ER S

Alex Honey is a year 10 student at

Irrigation Supplies, Fencing Supplies, Water Tanks & Fittings, Spray Units, Livestock Feeders, Livestock Drenching & Ear Tags, Chemical Supplies, Domestic Animal Feed In Bulk, Household Gas 9Kg And 45Kg With Delivery Service, Hardware, 4X4 Parts, Accessories And Installation, Bulk Fuel Delivery, Golf Western Oils, Husqvarna Agency, Garden Supplies, Tyre Sales And Fitting, Century Batteries, Rego Checks Inc Floats, Trailers & Caravans, Bagged Ice, Origin Gas Quick Swap, Pies, Cakes, Bread and Milk All Mechanical Repairs, Parts & Servicing Including Chainsaws, Brushcutters, Mowers & Atv

26 Durham Rd, East Gresford 02 4938 9204

Mon-Fri 7.30am to 5.30pm Sat 8am to 12pm, Sun closed

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CWA NEWS

Cancellation: The CWA meeting to be held on May 7th has been cancelled.

POPPIES: Many thanks to those who have knitted poppies for the Gresford School. Margo Capp, Judy Daly, Betty Kelehear and Robbie Thornton.

Cancellation: French conversation until further notice.

Please call Glenda Smith if you are interested in joining the group 4938 9456.

The school is planning its own Anzac Day ceremony and needed poppies for children new to the school and the kindergarten pupils.

VIRTUAL SCONE: The CWA of

CLEAN UP: Have you been having a

NSW has run the Tea Room at the Royal Easter Show for more than 70 years, raising on average in recent years $150,000 from the sale of about 50,000 scones, tea, coffee and products made by members. The virtual scone was invented to help bridge the funding gap.

People can go online and purchase a plate of virtual scones for $5, a Devonshire Tea for $10 a Dozen plain virtual scones for $20 and a whole bunch of cyber delicacies for $50. https://shop.cwaofnsw.org.au Anyone who makes a donation this way will receive a PDF copy of the CWA of NSW’s famous scone recipe.

clean up while in isolation. If so the normal op.shops are not open.

If you have wool, knitting cotton, material suitable for masks we would appreciate your donations. Members and friends of CWA knit, crochet for Wrap With Love and Leprosy bandages.

Member Jennifer Waterman is making masks from donated fabric.

They are available at the Vacy Post Office and Store.

Any donations: ring Dotti Hilliard and she will meet you at the CWA rooms – 4938 9483.

LIBRARY: Our CWA library is well stocked with many popular books as

 

Are you in need of an Electrician?

Maybe you need some Excavation work done, Even just a load of soil or gravel.

Please call Gregg, local reliable and trustworthy

Ph. 0429389473

www.merchantindustries.com.au No: 296114c Lic

ABN: 96 611 109 972

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On the Shelves

by Glenda Smith Eat, Pray, Love

Elizabeth Gilbert This was a kind of bible of self-discovery for some people early in this century, and was made into a film starring Julia Roberts. Gilbert has a fresh and invigorating writing style, with many flashes of humour, but much of it reflects the self-indulgence her personality brings to her travels. She is unapologetically egocentric and self-absorbed, but it is her ‘memoir’ after all.

CWA member Jennifer Waterman's masks available in Vacy.

well as many classics. It can be opened for you to browse and select books please call Dotti Hilliard to arrange a suitable time. Our street library is available to all, Glenda Smith changes the books regularly.

BOOK CLUB: The book for May is “Damascus” by Christos Tsiolkas.

Join in by reading the book and sharing ideas with book club members on line. Call Glenda Smith for details or email gingosan3@gmail.com.

Stay safe everyone, look forward to the world after Covid 19.

After an acrimonious divorce, and having gained a publisher’s advance she travels to Italy to indulge her love of food; to India on a spiritual quest; and Indonesia to relax and contemplate her good fortune in life, while nabbing a lover of extraordinary sensitivity and sophistication. Gilbert occasionally strives to express humility, but never succeeds – though she does come across as generous in spirit. This may be a diverting book for armchair travellers, or those who are willing to immerse themselves in someone else’s inner journey.

All books reviewed are from the CWA library on a separate shelf in the library so they are easy to find plus the reviews are in a folder.

Robyn Thornton, Secretary

Changes to trading...

GRESFORD BOWLS SPORT & RECREATION CLUB will be open from 4pm for takeaway sales and eftpos only Phone 4938 9368 LITTLE PAN ASIAN RESTAURANT will open from 5pm for takeaway only Wednesday + Friday + Sunday Phone 4938 9166 KEEP UP TO DATE WITH CHANGES Follow us on Facebook or call us - 4938 9368

44 years experience

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Paterson Allyn Garden Group goes ZOOM

All I can say about Covid19 is that it has improved my internet skills considerably! I have managed to master’ Zoom conferencing’ and now the Paterson Allyn Garden Group can still meet monthly, with coffee in hand, smiling members faces and plenty of garden chat. We have just launched our first virtual meeting with photos of the garden we were scheduled to wander and a run- down of the 9 acre garden by the owners. Penny Kater then gave an extremely vivid demonstration of how to select cuttings and trim them ready to pot in autumn. Jenny Creal ran through the Citrus Patch at this time of the year and how to manage it. I seem to have everything from leaf curl to bronze orange beetles plus a bit of scale on some lemons. The traps I have hanging in the trees are self-made from milk bottles with a couple of windows cut in the plastic filled with ½ litre of the 2/2/2 recipe…ie. 2 teaspoons of vegemite, 2 tablespoons of ammonia and a 2 litres of water. Great at attracting fruit fly. I believe that the vegetable patch will once again become an integral part of our gardens. No systemic sprays. Just plenty of our own composted soil that comes free from garden clippings ,

vegetable food waste and torn up newspaper. Janie Chandler

Citrus Care in Autumn The trees have gone through a tough summer so autumn is a good time for some TLC. Most citrus will now have fruit approaching maturity so it is important to make sure they have regular (not frequent) water. A good soaking once a week is sufficient. March/April is a good time to fertilise. Specific citrus fertiliser is available but chicken manure type pellets together with blood and bone are more beneficial to soil organisms.

Remember that the feeder roots are under the outer leaves, called the dripline, so direct water and fertiliser there. Try to avoid watering the trunk and keep mulch from direct contact with trunk to avoid collar rot. Top up mulch if necessary.

from laying it’s eggs. If damage is significant, cut off the leaves.

• Fruit fly can still be around and will especially attack grapefruit so put out bait traps or lures. It is required by law to control this pest.

• Caterpillars of small citrus butterfly.

Eggs are laid on tips of new growth and hatch into caterpillars, which can destroy large amounts of foliage. Pick off or spray with Dipel.

Yellowing leaves can be a sign of mineral deficiency. Citrus are heavy feeders and nutrients can be leached out of the soil by heavy rain. Acid soil is common in this area and low soil pH can also lead to mineral deficiency. If in doubt, check soil pH and if below 6, add some lime around the dripline.

Growing Garlic Garlic is really easy to grow. It needs full sun, good drainage, water and fertiliser.

Bulbs can be sourced on-line or from growers markets. Don’t use the imported varieties in some supermarkets as they have been fumigated to enter the country!

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G resford News

The

15 cm apart in damp soil. Mulch well.

Once leaves have appeared apply fertiliser beside rows and again in September. Keep damp but not wet.

Leaves will start to dry off in about November and once 2 thirds have died, the plants should be ready to dig up. Try not to water within a week of harvest. Place on racks and when leaves are dry, cut them off and store bulbs in onion bags or tie in bunches and hang in an airy place in the shade. Make sure to save some for planting next year.

Tips on Taking Cuttings There are several different types of Janie Chandler and Lisa Connors cuttings and each

• May 2020, p 15

plant responds best at different times.

• Spring/ early summer: soft tip cuttings, herbs, shrubs.

• Mid-summer to autumn: Semi hardwood cuttings more mature evergreen shrubs and trees • Winter: hardwood cuttings: deciduous shrubs and vines Key points • Take cutting material early in the morning and plunge into a bucket of water.( avoid flowering material) • When you have prepared the cuttings, keep them in water until planted.

• Use a sandy potting mix, well wetted down.

• Dip the cut end in honey or rooting powder before planting. Use a dibble stick to make each hole in the mix.

Two thirds in the mix, one third out.

• You can put many cuttings in the same pot.

• Place 3 sticks around the edge of the pot and cover with a plastic bag secured with a tie.

• The key is never to let them dry out.

• Place in the shade.

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G resford News • March 2020

The

, p 16

The ghosted landscape

by Dr Jamie Derkenne

was so named. It’s an European approximation of an Aboriginal word.

In the Gathang tongue, as in many languages world-wide, the consonants have no direct English correlation.

Several years ago, while walking in the Sometimes the word is written Kuringgai rainforest along the Williams river, I or Ku-ring-gai (there are more than came across a scar tree: an old eucalypt 15 other variations) in an attempt to from which a shield-shaped piece of approximate the Gathang vowel stresses. bark had been removed a long time ago.

Sometimes the word is written Guringi, I realized then that the rainforest had or Gringai. It means people of the forest, been inhabited long before most of it and is the name the local group gave was cleared by colonists, and set out to themselves. The Gringhi bridge is one of find out all I could about these the ghosts in the landscape that point to Indigenous people. What I found were the fact that the area was occupied for scraps of information – short articles in many thousands of years. Other ghosts old newspapers, several cases in the include the name Dungog. Dungog does NSW Supreme Court, the recollections not mean, as many suggest, “grassy of a white man – a colonist – who had hills” or “thinly wooded” but does mean spent his childhood growing up at those particular grassy hills. The Gringai Carrington, as well as information from had a word for every fold in the hills, people alive today who proudly every creek and every gully, indeed every proclaim their heritage. But put feature of the landscape. Such was their together these scraps add up to is a intimacy with the rainforest and alpine story of a vibrant people with an landscapes in which they lived. This intricate culture, a people whose home caused tremendous confusion for territory includes the Gresford area. colonist amateur linguists whose Gringai word lists confidently assert particular Next time you drive along the Allyn and contradictory words for “summer” River Road just past Halton you might and “eel”, not realising the Gringai spare a thought as you cross the onelane Gringhi bridge as to why the bridge seasons had no European correlation, This is the first in a series of articles that Dr Jamie Derkenne is writing for the Gresford News. Jamie has a long time connection with the Upper Allyn.

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or that the Gringai words for eel describe the particular species.

I’m a gubba, and I use the past tense in many of these articles. That is because colonist interaction extirpated – a colonist code word for “destroyed” – much of Gringai culture. Even so, the past tense suggests a colonist viewpoint that smacks of social Darwinism. Make no mistake, the Gringai still live, and they are working hard to reclaim their culture.

These people lived in small groups dotted along the Paterson, Allyn, Williams and Karuah rivers. The exact extent of their boundaries is not clear, but they certainly lived around Gresford and Dungog, and certainly did not extend to the northern suburbs of Sydney. Ku-ring-gai Shire Council is so named because an amateur historian at Maitland in the 1880s assumed incorrectly that because he could find no evidence of current Aboriginal habitation (they had been all but wiped out by colonisation) in the area to the north of Sydney it must have been occupied by the Gringai. The Gringai also lived in the Port Stephens area.

Indeed many moved there in the 1820s

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G resford News

The

“Driven to extremes, the white men,... took the arsenic mixed it in dampers, and laid a death trail for their enemies. Fatal was the effect. In every creek, in every gully, lay dead blacks, and Ganghat became anathema; a place accursed, Then another name arose for the locality ’Belbora’ (now mostly called Belbowrie.) ’Baal Bora’ to signify that the circular ceremonial of the Boombit should never more be enacted there…”

because they were starving due to rainforest clearing, and the Australian Agricultural Company station at Carrington was offering very basic food rations in exchange for labour. The bargain struck was worse. As bad as anything in the antebellum United States.

The colonisation process was not kind to the Gringai. A Dungog magistrates’ report from 1845 complained that women and children were being raped by colonists with such frequency that “the diminution of births is most remarkable.” Gringai culture was such that male children born from such unions were killed (their skin totem was impossible to determine). Female children were outcast. Many girls survived by becoming domestic servants – that is, slaves – for the convicts working land and cutting cedar on behalf of Sydney-based owners.

The Gringai were also starving, which led to conflict with convict shepherds working for the AAC as well as other colonists. The locale of Belbora is a

• May 2020, p 17

Brandy “the last of the Williams River tribe” died in 1902. Today the Cook family at Barrington (see Bob Syron’s website) and James Miller whose book Will to Win recounts some of the Gringai culture around the Gresford area both claim direct descendancy.

Despite the determined effort to extirpate the Gringai, it is possible to piece together what they looked like, how they viewed the world, what they Portrait of King Boomerang, chief of Dungog, New ate, how they raised their children and South Wales by T.W. Rider. Lithograph 1848 From the National Library of Australia how they interacted with their world. In this series of articles for the Gresford corruption of the Gathang words “Baal News over the next few months I’ll Bora”. Baal translates as an emphatic explore all these themes. negative. Recountered one old timer:

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G resford News • May 2020

The

, p 18

Council Happenings Council Happenings 23 April

John Connors – Mayor

Storytime at Home

There are nearly 300 free stories to Mayor’s Message captivate and enthral every growing Our first live streamed Council Meeting was mind thanks to Story Box Library. Better a great success this week, with over 400 yet, they’re all read by well-known video views since the meeting commenced. Australian actors, authors and presenters including Nick Cave, Claire Hooper and It was great that so many of you could Shane Jacobson. tune in from the comfort of your home to be a part of what's happening in our Accessing Story Box Library simply local area. requires a Dungog Library card number.

Council updated its meeting procedures to minimise the amount of people present in the Council Chambers - in line with current COVID-19 directions and the majority of councillors participated via video link to adhere to these regulations.

I would like to personally thank all staff and councillors involved with ensuring the smooth facilitation of this process.

As part of the night’s discussions, I have called on the Federal and State Governments to urgently deliver comprehensive and multifaceted financial support to local government, so it can continue to operate effectively and provide essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can find more information on this, along with highlights of the night’s proceedings on our website: dungog.nsw.gov.au

Visit: https://storyboxlibrary.com.au/ login?library_login=true

Stay Active Staying active while also staying safe is challenging in our current climate, with many planned sporting activities and recreation venues unavailable. In response to these challenges, the NSW Office of Sport has created a free online resource to help people stay active in and around their home.

The page is regularly updated and there are activities suitable for everyone including kids, seniors and people with a disability. For more information visit: https://sport.nsw.gov.au/stayingactive

Hardship Policy

A reminder that any ratepayer who is having difficulty in meeting their rate payments, the fourth instalment of which is due 31 May, should make For those who may have missed the live contact with Council and if appropriate stream, the video is still available on our make application under the hardship Facebook page, and an audio version will policy. Details and application forms can be found at: dungog.nsw.gov.au/ be on our website shortly. hardship-policy As always, I am more than willing to receive emails or phone calls from residents Council Happenings 17 April who have issues they wish to raise.

Open for Business and Here to Help Council’s Administration Building continues to be open from 9am to 11am on Tuesdays and from 1pm to 3pm on Fridays. We ask anyone visiting us during these times to please adhere to social distancing requirements for the protection of our staff and other customers.

Council can also be contacted via phone (4995 7777) or email (shirecouncil@ dungog.nsw.gov.au) and we are happy to assist with any enquiries via these channels. Where possible, we request residents contact us via these methods.

Development Applications and Construction Certificate Applications continue to be processed and can be lodged by email with payment made by card over the phone.

Council Meeting Council will meet on Wednesday 22 April, with the majority of Councillors participating in the meeting via video link to minimise the number of people present in the Council Chambers.

Members of the public are invited to listen to the meeting or to participate in the public participation session via video link. The meeting will be streamed live through Council’s Facebook page.

Dungog Chronicle Closure: Stay Informed

The Dungog Chronicle has ceased publication until at least 29 June. In the absence of a newspaper within the Dungog Shire, Council will be using the Newcastle Herald to communicate with COVID-19 our community, both in fulfilling our We’re all in this together.

The far-reaching effects of the COVID-19 statutory requirements and in pandemic has not missed Dungog Shire. disseminating information.

Childcare Assistance During COVID-19 Following the downturn experienced as The Australian Government’s Early a result of the extreme summer bushfire We have engaged a Communications Childhood Education and Care Relief Consultant on a 3-month tenure to help season, our community is feeling the Package has been established to support us disseminate all information as quickly consequences of these ongoing services to remain open for families. In and effectively as possible, particularly in circumstances. return for receiving payments, services relation to any changes occurring as a are required to: While the impact on many businesses result of COVID-19.

• Stay open unless closed on public and the broader community has been To stay informed, we recommend: health advice or for other health and significant, Council is doing everything safety reasons; we can to provide access to information • Sign up to receive Council Happenings direct to your Inbox each week.

• Ensure families are NOT charged a fee, and support our businesses and residents • Connect via Council’s official Facebook including an out of pocket or gap* fee; through this unprecedented situation. page: facebook.com/dungogcouncil • Prioritise care to essential workers, Council continues to provide the • Visit Council’s website for regular vulnerable and disadvantaged children majority of services to our community, updates: dungog.nsw.gov.au and previously enrolled children. and is operating in accordance with We are also hoping to make hard copies Payments will be backdated to 6 March Public Health Orders, with the health of Council Happenings available to those 2020. and safety of our staff and the broader with no online access. The Gresford For up-to-date COVID-19 information community in mind. For a full list of closures to council facilities and updated News, Paterson Post and Clarence Town and advice, visit our dedicated page: operating conditions please see: dungog. Sentinel will also all be used as a means https://www.dungog.nsw.gov.au/covidnsw.gov.au/council-services-and-covid-19 of communicating with our community.

19-information-and-advice

G resford News

• May 2020, p 19 Gresford News April Crossword The

Anglican Parish of Gresford Paterson

Whilst our churches are closed due to COVID19 the Newcastle Anglican Cathedral has services on YouTube. You can also ring 40582680 (local call) to listen to a short service of prayer. The service will change each Sunday.

If you know of anyone hardship in the Gresford & Paterson areas going through a time of real need and who may need some form of assistance, please let one of our Ministry Team know. (0438 413 007) We now have a new minister who is a Locum for the Parish. His name is Fr Peter Rothnie and he can be contacted on 0438 413 007, which is also the contact number for the Parish. Fr Peter is happy for people to be able to email him. His email address is: r2cmdi@bigpond.com

Crossword kindly provided by Russel Jessop.

St Helen’s Catholic Parish of Gresford and Sacred Heart Summer Hill Due to the pandemic all churches are closed until further notice The Parish Priest, Fr. Derek Garner can be contacted on 4992 1477 March 2020 crossword answers

APOLOGY - Missing clues Due to a layout error the March crossword was missing 2 clues.

Here they are...

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